William John Donnell III arrested in California

Friday

Jun 21, 2013 at 1:00 PM

Authorities notified Colorado media June 20 of the arrest of William Donnell III in California at the San Ysidro Port of Entry in California from Tijuana, Mexico, said KKTV website shortly after noon on Thursday.

Authorities notified Colorado media June 20 of the arrest of William Donnell III in California at the San Ysidro Port of Entry in California from Tijuana, Mexico, said KKTV website shortly after noon on Thursday.

Donnell is accused of shooting and killing his 29-year-old girlfriend, Tara Martinez, in February this year. The couple lived in Olney Springs, about 40 miles northwest of La Junta.

Deputies with the Crowley County Sheriff's Office were called to a trailer in the 200 block of Schuyler Ave. just after 2 a.m. on Feb. 19, summoned by family members who found Martinez.

Colorado Bureau of Investigation agents and sheriff's deputies followed up on numerous leads in the months following the death of Martinez. Donnell was caught last week and authorities notified Colorado media about his arrest earlier on Thursday, said KKTV.

Donnell was caught at the re-entry point in possession of marijuana. He originally lied about his identify but was caught after being fingerprinted. He will be extradited to Colorado, where he will face first degree murder charges.